Latest news with #KevinAntonioPosadas
The Independent
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump administration sends 68 immigrants back to Honduras and Colombia on first self-deportation flight
The Trump administration has orchestrated the first repatriation flight of migrants it claims were part of a group of 68 voluntary deportations. The migrants were sent back to Colombia and Honduras on Monday on the first self-deportation flight funded by the government. Thirty-eight Hondurans, including 19 children, were sent to San Pedro Sula in northern Honduras after they were handed $1,000 debit cards from the U.S. government and the offer to apply for legal entry into the U.S. in the future. President Donald Trump promised on the campaign trail to conduct 'mass deportations' during his second stint in the White House. Experts believe that the offer to self-deport won't encounter high demand and is only set to attract a small number of migrants already thinking about going back. The offer to self-deport comes as the government has also conducted high-profile migrant detentions in the U.S. and as it has flown hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to a top-security prison facility in El Salvador. Kevin Antonio Posadas, from the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, had lived in Houston for three years and had already thought about returning to Honduras when the Trump administration revealed its new self deportation offering. 'I wanted to see my family and my mom,' he said, noting how easy the process was. 'You just apply (through the CBP Home app) and in three days you've got it,' he added. The flight departed Houston early on Monday. 'It's good because you save the cost of the flight if you have the intention of leaving,' he said. Posadas added that he hadn't been worried about deportation, and while he had enjoyed living in the U.S., he had been considering leaving for some time. He said he would eventually think about taking up the offer for those who choose to leave of their own volition to apply to enter the U.S. legally. Announcing the Monday flight, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement that 'If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home. If you don't, you will be subjected to fines, arrest, deportation, and will never be allowed to return.' The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that a further 26 migrants on the flight were being taken to Colombia. Antonio Garcia, the Honduran deputy foreign minister, said the government would give the returning migrants $100 in cash and a $200 credit at a government-run store that sells basic goods. He added that four of the children arriving in Honduras on Monday had been born in the U.S. Garcia met the arriving migrants at the airport and said they had told him that being undocumented in the U.S. had grown increasingly challenging, and that the situation was becoming more hostile. They were concerned about going to work. Wilson Paz, the Honduran immigration director, said that fewer Hondurans have been sent back so far compared to last year, noting that 13,500 have been deported this year, compared to more than 15,000 by the same time the previous year. 'I don't think it will be thousands of people who apply for the program,' said Paz. 'Our responsibility is that they come in an orderly fashion, and we support them.'
Arab News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
US sends 68 migrants back to Honduras and Colombia in first voluntary deportation
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras: The United States on Monday sent 68 immigrants from Honduras and Colombia back to their countries, the first government-funded flight of what the Trump administration is calling voluntary deportations. In the northern Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, 38 Hondurans, including 19 children, disembarked from the charter flight carrying $1,000 debit cards from the US government and the offer to one day be allowed to apply for legal entry into the US. US President Donald Trump has promised to increase deportations substantially. Experts believe the self-deportation offer will only appeal to a small portion of migrants already considering return, but unlikely to spur high demand. The offer has been paired with highly-publicized migrant detentions in the US and flying a couple hundred Venezuelan migrants to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. Kevin Antonio Posadas, from Tegucigalpa, had lived in Houston for three years, but had already been considering a return to Honduras when the Trump administration announced its offer. 'I wanted to see my family and my mom,' said Posadas, who added that the process was easy. 'You just apply (through the CBP Home app) and in three days you've got it,' he said. The flight left Houston early Monday. 'It's good because you save the cost of the flight if you have the intention of leaving.' Posadas said he hadn't feared deportation and liked living in the US, but had been thinking for some time about going home. He said eventually he would consider taking up the US government's offer of allowing those who self-deport to apply to enter the United States legally. In a statement about the flight Monday, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, 'If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home. If you don't, you will be subjected to fines, arrest, deportation and will never be allowed to return.' Twenty-six more migrants aboard the flight were headed home to Colombia, according to a US Department of Homeland Security statement. Honduras Deputy Foreign Minister Antonio García said the Honduran government would also support the returning migrants with $100 cash and another $200 credit at a government-run store that sells basic necessities. Among the migrants arriving voluntarily Monday were four children who were born in the United States, García said. García, who met the arriving migrants at the airport, said they told him that being in the US without documents required for legal immigration or residence had been increasingly difficult, that things were growing more hostile and they feared going to work. Still, the number of Hondurans deported from the US so far this year is below last year's pace, said Honduras immigration director Wilson Paz. While about 13,500 Hondurans have been deported from the US this year, the figure stood at more than 15,000 by this time in 2024, Paz said. He didn't expect the number to accelerate much, despite the Trump administration's intentions. Some would continue applying to self-deport, because they feel like their time in the US is up or because it's getting harder to work, he said. 'I don't think it will be thousands of people who apply for the program,' Paz said. 'Our responsibility is that they come in an orderly fashion and we support them.'
The Independent
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
US sends 68 migrants back to Honduras and Colombia in first voluntary deportation
The United States on Monday sent 68 immigrants from Honduras and Colombia back to their countries, the first government-funded flight of what the Trump administration is calling voluntary deportations. In the northern Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, 38 Hondurans, including 19 children, disembarked from the charter flight carrying $1,000 debit cards from the U.S. government and the offer to one day be allowed to apply for legal entry into the U.S. U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to increase deportations substantially. Experts believe the self-deportation offer will only appeal to a small portion of migrants already considering return, but unlikely to spur high demand. The offer has been paired with highly-publicized migrant detentions in the U.S. and flying a couple hundred Venezuelan migrants to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. Kevin Antonio Posadas, from Tegucigalpa, had lived in Houston for three years, but had already been considering a return to Honduras when the Trump administration announced its offer. 'I wanted to see my family and my mom,' said Posadas, who added that the process was easy. 'You just apply (through the CBP Home app ) and in three days you've got it,' he said. The flight left Houston early Monday. 'It's good because you save the cost of the flight if you have the intention of leaving.' Posadas said he hadn't feared deportation and liked living in the U.S., but had been thinking for some time about going home. He said eventually he would consider taking up the U.S. government's offer of allowing those who self-deport to apply to enter the United States legally. In a statement about the flight Monday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, 'If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home. If you don't, you will be subjected to fines, arrest, deportation and will never be allowed to return.' Twenty-six more migrants aboard the flight were headed home to Colombia, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security statement. Honduras Deputy Foreign Minister Antonio García said the Honduran government would also support the returning migrants with $100 cash and another $200 credit at a government-run store that sells basic necessities. Among the migrants arriving voluntarily Monday were four children who were born in the United States, García said. García, who met the arriving migrants at the airport, said they told him that being in the U.S. without documents required for legal immigration or residence had been increasingly difficult, that things were growing more hostile and they feared going to work. Still, the number of Hondurans deported from the U.S. so far this year is below last year's pace, said Honduras immigration director Wilson Paz. While about 13,500 Hondurans have been deported from the U.S. this year, the figure stood at more than 15,000 by this time in 2024, Paz said. He didn't expect the number to accelerate much, despite the Trump administration's intentions. Some would continue applying to self-deport, because they feel like their time in the U.S. is up or because it's getting harder to work, he said. 'I don't think it will be thousands of people who apply for the program,' Paz said. 'Our responsibility is that they come in an orderly fashion and we support them.' __ González reported from Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Associated Press
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
US sends 68 migrants back to Honduras and Colombia in first voluntary deportation
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras (AP) — The United States on Monday sent 68 immigrants from Honduras and Colombia back to their countries, the first government-funded flight of what the Trump administration is calling voluntary deportations. In the northern Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, 38 Hondurans, including 19 children, disembarked from the charter flight carrying $1,000 debit cards from the U.S. government and the offer to one day be allowed to apply for legal entry into the U.S. U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to increase deportations substantially. Experts believe the self-deportation offer will only appeal to a small portion of migrants already considering return, but unlikely to spur high demand. The offer has been paired with highly-publicized migrant detentions in the U.S. and flying a couple hundred Venezuelan migrants to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. Kevin Antonio Posadas, from Tegucigalpa, had lived in Houston for three years, but had already been considering a return to Honduras when the Trump administration announced its offer. 'I wanted to see my family and my mom,' said Posadas, who added that the process was easy. 'You just apply (through the CBP Home app ) and in three days you've got it,' he said. The flight left Houston early Monday. 'It's good because you save the cost of the flight if you have the intention of leaving.' Posadas said he hadn't feared deportation and liked living in the U.S., but had been thinking for some time about going home. He said eventually he would consider taking up the U.S. government's offer of allowing those who self-deport to apply to enter the United States legally. In a statement about the flight Monday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, 'If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home. If you don't, you will be subjected to fines, arrest, deportation and will never be allowed to return.' Twenty-six more migrants aboard the flight were headed home to Colombia, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security statement. Honduras Deputy Foreign Minister Antonio García said the Honduran government would also support the returning migrants with $100 cash and another $200 credit at a government-run store that sells basic necessities. Among the migrants arriving voluntarily Monday were four children who were born in the United States, García said. García, who met the arriving migrants at the airport, said they told him that being in the U.S. without documents required for legal immigration or residence had been increasingly difficult, that things were growing more hostile and they feared going to work. Still, the number of Hondurans deported from the U.S. so far this year is below last year's pace, said Honduras immigration director Wilson Paz. While about 13,500 Hondurans have been deported from the U.S. this year, the figure stood at more than 15,000 by this time in 2024, Paz said. He didn't expect the number to accelerate much, despite the Trump administration's intentions. Some would continue applying to self-deport, because they feel like their time in the U.S. is up or because it's getting harder to work, he said. 'I don't think it will be thousands of people who apply for the program,' Paz said. 'Our responsibility is that they come in an orderly fashion and we support them.' __ González reported from Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
